The world numbers 1, Ale Galan and Juan Lebron are having a complicated start to the season, marked by injuries and the controversy during the WPT final in Chile. In interview with our colleagues from Marca, the Madrilenian Galan made a point of expressing himself concerning this controversial final.

Between ignorance and misunderstanding

Ale Galan "At first, when I saw all the media coverage, I didn't understand, because what I experienced was very far from what we saw on the screen. I saw what happened and went back to watch the game.

"I dodge the bullet because there's a missile coming from Coello, but I don't see it. It comes out straight, the sound on the glass is not very clear… I see Agus and Arturo with their heads down and without celebrating when it's match point, but above all I hear Honorio (the referee) chanting 30- 40 and I look at the bulletin board, where it also says 30-40. That's how I lived it."

"Now that I have seen the game again, I would have liked to see the ball or speak with the players. I then look closely at the footage and see Agus and Arturo focused, but at the time I was playing a 30-40 and didn't think it was match point. […] At the time, I really thought Coello's ball was a foul.

A misunderstanding with the referee

Ale Galan "Do you play a 40-30 match point and a 30-40 differently? When I took the ball and came back, I heard “game, set and match”, and the only thing I asked Honorio for was an explanation as to whether he had cheated in the score. They are voiced in Mundo Deportivo explaining that he saw that the score was bad and that he was wrong. If I had seen the ball, the game would have been over then, that's for sure."

"I thank Honorio for his words after the game and for the interview he gave this week, because they reflect what everyone went through.

Coello Tapia Lebron Galan WPT final Abu Dhabi 2023

Relations are healthy with Coello and Tapia

Ale Galan "During the game we talked about it, we all understood that it was a decision of the referee. They thought he made a mistake in the ad. In the end nothing was resolved. So before leaving for Paraguay, we met at the airport and we talked. We have all understood the situation and there is no problem between us."

"The pair that was supposed to win won, they are honest winners. After the last ball, the match should have ended."

hurtful criticism

Ale Galan "What always hurts the most is when criticism hits the people you love, my family, my partner. These are limits that should not be crossed. I accept and I understand everything people went through and thought after the final in Chile.”

"I tried to avoid social media. I participated in all these misunderstandings, I apologized after the final because the match should not have continued. My life does not depend on winning or not winning a match, and I think my way of being on the pitch is more than demonstrated, the players know what kind of person I am."

For changes in the padel

Ale Galan "I would definitely include the video review option. For me, it was a lack of communication. I understand the position of the referee with four players asking for explanations all the time, it must be complicated. For the sake of clarity I think the video review would have been helpful."

Vincent Gallie

A fan of oval football, round ball but also racket sports, he was stung by the padel during his adolescence in Galicia. As comfortable in front of the camera as behind a microphone, Vince will be able to bring his vision and expertise as a fan of the little yellow ball.

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